Defending the Guilty

I like watching TV series about lawyers and usually I enjoy how vapid they are, with lawyers pulling tricks out of the bag in totally implausible yet satisfying ways and unexpectedly winning all the time. But it is actually better and incredibly refreshing to see a legal show done another way. Critical, murky and funny.

I had entirely given up on new television in 2008, giving up on new film in 2012. I recently came back to new film, finding most as awful as they ever were but with the occasional okay one. I had peeked at new TV shows in recent times and seen nothing worth even mentioning. However, with Defending the Guilty there seems to finally be a show that speaks powerfully about this terrible society we have made, with a serious wit, and finely judged aesthetics.

Well scripted, well cast, well acted with a good theme and good episode storylines. Some talented young actors getting their first breaks in this. I really hope this goes beyond 6 episodes.

Defending The Guilty

This was brilliant script writing, perfectly cast and tightly acted from start to finish. It was a cross between the humour of This Life (1996) and the legal acuity of Silk (2011).

It was remarkable as it displayed nearly every form of humour from deadpan to farce.

Will Sharpe really has the full range of acting skills, with self deprecation, diffidence and irony brought out at the same moment. Whilst he doesn't possess the typical or expected traits of a hero he comes across as endearing, charming and totally engaging. Without being to effusive the skies the limit with this mans talent, he is the entire package.

The entire cast was just brilliant with his jaded supervisor played by Katherine Parkinson pre-eminent for praise.

I just can't wait for Series 2

A highly justified ten, well written with a smart and very funny cast. The crime maybe not seeing a second series!